It seems like ever since “Garden State,” the execs up in Hollywood have been trying to recapture the magic of the perfect soundtrack and movie combination – a movie made more compelling by the songs beneath the scenes and a track list improved by the significance of the pictures that accompany it.

“Catch and Release,” the newest release from Sony Pictures, follows Gray Wheeler (Jennifer Garner) as she recovers from the death of her fianc� – only to discover that he was concealing some rather significant details about his life from her.

With the help of quirky friends Sam and Dennis, (Kevin Smith and Sam Jaeger), Gray begins to reevaluate her outlook on life, including her opinion of her fianc�’s best friend, Fritz (Timothy Olyphant).

While the funeral, friends and romance plot combination of “Catch and Release” actually resembles that of “Garden State,” the new soundtrack, also from Sony, misses the beat.

The cover sticker describes it as “moody and magnificent.” However, moody and melancholy might be the better alliterative phrase to depict the heavily alternative soundtrack that includes Blinker the Star, the Magic Numbers and the Doves among other notables.

Still, both the soundtrack and the movie have standout, surprise performances. Kevin Smith gives comic relief without too much overacting and lightens the tone of what could have been a very heavy movie.

Gary Jules’ ballad “Pills,” lackluster by itself, took on a whole new shine when coupled with the movie.

Also in the hits category, Joshua Radin’s “What if You” wins the “Most Like a ‘Garden State’ Number” award, while Gomez’s “These 3 Sins” brings the beat back in the track list and the movie.

In the misses category, “Soul Meets Body,” one
of the more recent, likeable singles from Death Cab for Cutie, proves disappointing on screen and soundtrack. “Soul Meets Body,” like Juliette Lewis’ performance in the movie, ultimately feels both inappropriate and awkward.

Overall, “Catch and Release” earns a mediocre grade in both capacities with hit-or-miss scenes and songs and a few noteworthy performances-but nothing to call Zach Braff about.